The experiences of Chinese colorectal cancer survivors in marital intimacy after ostomy creation: A qualitative study.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most prevalent cancer globally. The disease and its treatment significantly impact marital intimacy, particularly among individuals who have undergone ostomy creation. Therefore, it is necessary to explore their experiences. Objective: This study aimed to explore the experiences of colorectal cancer survivors in marital intimacy after ostomy creation and clarify the domain and sub-domain of marital intimacy in CRC survivors with ostomy. Method: This study used a qualitative descriptive design, and participants were selected by purposive sampling from two hospitals in Henan province, China. Sixteen patients participated in this research, and the data were collected through an in-depth interview from June 27 to September 27, 2023. Colaizzi's method was used to analyze the data. Results: Five themes emerged from data analysis, including physical intimacy, psychological intimacy, social intimacy, spiritual intimacy, and operational intimacy. Conclusion: By profiling the experiences of CRC survivors in marital intimacy after ostomy creation, the domain and sub-domain of marital intimacy were clarified in this cohort and revealed that ostomy had a severe effect on marital intimacy among colorectal cancer survivors. The results from this study could be used by nurses, midwives, and other healthcare professionals to design specific interventions covering all aspects of marital intimacy. Also, the findings will guide the development of a particular instrument for marital intimacy in CRC survivors with ostomy.

Ethics of a Physiotherapist: Touch, Corporeality, Intimacy-Based on the Experience of Elderly Patients.

This paper presents a qualitative study investigating the application of physiotherapists' professional ethics in practice with respect to touch, intimacy, and corporeality during therapy, based on the experiences of elderly patients. As the relationship in a physiotherapy session is multidimensional, the study considered three levels: physical contact, verbal contact, and the conditions in which the therapy took place. The aim of this study was to find out what values are of importance to older people during a physiotherapy session, with emphasis on the categories of touch, corporeality, and intimacy. The studied group consisted of sixteen male and female physiotherapy patients aged between sixty-six and ninety-two years. The study was conducted according to the grounded theory methodology. The research material consisted of transcriptions of free targeted interviews, which were subjected to a process of coding and analysis. As a result of data analyses, three superior categories have been identified-safety, anxiety, interpersonal relationship-and three a priori categories stemming from the characteristic features of the study area-touch, corporeality, and intimacy. The a priori categories did not appear independently in statements made by the respondents, but instead seemed to be components of superior categories. The most important values indicated by the respondents concerned the interpersonal relationship with their physiotherapist and the feeling of safety and care. In terms of touch, corporeality, and intimacy, the respondents indicated, among others, the importance of predictability, a sense of security, privacy, and acceptance of the body.

Maternal caregiving stress and metabolic health: Sexual activity as a potential buffer.

Chronic stress lead to dysregulation of metabolic hormones, creating risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Based on previous work suggesting the potential for sexual activity to relieve psychological stress and reduce stress-related neuroendocrine activity, the present research explored sexual activity as a protective factor. We focused on chronic stress in the form of caregiving stress, comparing premenopausal mothers of a child with an autism spectrum disorder vs. a neurotypical child, in relation to metabolic hormones - insulin (and insulin resistance as assessed by HOMA), leptin, and ghrelin. Then, we explored the moderating role of sexual activity. Our results showed that high-stress mothers showed higher levels of insulin, insulin resistance, and lower levels of ghrelin compared to low-stress mothers. However, sexual activity modulated these associations such that among mothers who were sexually active (as coded from their daily diaries), no significant differences in these outcomes were observed between groups. This buffering effect of sexual activity was distinguishable from the buffering effect of physical activity and independent of global relationship satisfaction. Together, our findings provide novel evidence supporting the potential protective effects of sexual activity from chronic stress-related metabolic disease risk.

Sexual Activity in Adults with Pediatric-Onset Spinal Cord Injury: Injury, Demographic, and Lifestyle Factors.

Background: Sexual development is a complex process of understanding oneself as a sexual being. Youth with spinal cord injury (SCI) navigate the typical phases of sexual development along with the physical and psychological sequelae of an SCI. As youth with SCI progress from adolescence to emerging adulthood, sexual activity-physical intimacy and sexual intercourse-is an important milestone. Objectives: The aims of the study were to (1) describe frequency of physical intimacy among adults with pediatric-onset SCI and (2) identify injury, demographic, and lifestyle factors that predict frequency of physical intimacy. Methods: Adults with pediatric-onset SCI who were former patients within a North American pediatric hospital system (N = 277) completed a structured telephone interview that included medical and sociodemographic information and standardized measures of psychological functioning. Participants rated physical intimacy and sexual intercourse frequency on a 5-point Likert scale, with a response of monthly, weekly, or daily classified as regular frequency and never or yearly as irregular frequency. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted with physical intimacy frequency as the primary outcome. Results: Of the participants, 55% engaged in physical intimacy and 49% engaged in sexual intercourse with regular frequency. In logistic regression analyses, living independently of parents, being married, and higher perceived social integration increased likelihood of regular frequency of physical intimacy. Injury severity and secondary medical complications were not significant independent predictors of frequency of physical intimacy. Conclusion: Half of adults with pediatric-onset SCI engage in regular physical intimacy; this is below the estimates for the general population. Psychosocial factors are stronger contributors to physical intimacy frequency than SCI-related factors. Health care providers and researchers should focus on barriers to social integration and development of social relationships as factors that influence physical intimacy in this population.

Lived Experiences of Sexuality and Sexual Functioning in Males with SCI: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in males with spinal cord injury (SCI) and has been recognized to be a key recovery priority. Objectives: This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study aimed to investigate the major themes linked to sexual functioning in males with chronic (>1 year) SCI. Methods: Twenty male participants with SCI, aged 25 to 59 years, completed validated questionnaires exploring sexual function/satisfaction and health-related quality of life and a semi-structured interview with an experienced sexual medicine physician. Sex hormone concentrations and metabolic biomarkers, along with body composition and habitual physical activity levels, were assessed. Interview recordings were transcribed and thematic analysis performed using combined COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behavior) and biopsychosocial models to identify and organize major contributors and barriers to sexual functioning. Results: Metabolic and hormonal biomarkers largely fell within normal physiological ranges despite reduced sexual functioning reported in our cohort (19/20 participants reported some degree of erectile dysfunction). Qualitative analysis of interview transcripts revealed 24 themes. Adaptability was important for improving sexual satisfaction. Attraction and attentiveness to sex and partners remained stable over time, while the desire for intimacy increased post injury. Sexual social norms, and comparisons to the able-bodied population, provided challenges for sexual activity and partnership. Environmental concerns regarding access to sexual health resources and accessible physical spaces during intimacy were relevant. Mood disorders and general life stressors negatively impacted sexual desire, while physical activity encouraged sexual activity. Conclusion: By considering a holistic view of sexuality in males with SCI, we identified key contributors and barriers to sexual functioning for the cohort studied.

Vocation as tragedy: Love and knowledge in the lives of the Mills, the Webers, and the Russells.

Can love affect knowledge and knowledge affect love? John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor-Mill, Max and Marianne Weber, and Bertrand and Dora Russell had a definite vocation: they wanted to change the world. They questioned traditional gender arrangements through publications on equality, marriage, and education. They were liberal thinkers, advocating individual freedom and autonomy, vis à vis the constraints of state and society. Their partnership inspired their work, a living experiment conducted through their own unconventional relationship. Over time, their increasingly radical, avant-garde ideas on marriage complicated the ongoing negotiation over power and intimacy which typified their marriages. Building on the historiography of social science couples, and by means of an analysis of the micro-social dynamics of marriage as documented in the life writings of the Mills, the Webers, and the Russells, I analyse the connections between gender, intimacy, and creativity. These couples' experiences highlight the non-rational dimension of a most rational endeavour.

Identifying the Unmet Needs of People Living With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A National Survey to Inform Interdisciplinary Palliative Care.

Introduction/Aims: This national survey builds on previous qualitative research examining potential palliative care needs among people living with ALS (pALS) by quantifying and investigating relationships among pALS' stage of illness progression; physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intimacy-related concerns; advance care planning behaviors; perceptions of feeling heard and understood by healthcare providers; and overall quality of life. Methods: Researchers partnered with national organizations to recruit pALS to participate in a one-time survey comprising items from validated instruments (eg, the ALS Specific Quality of Life Instrument-Revised) and researcher-generated measures. Data were analyzed using logistic and linear regression. Results: Among pALS (n = 112), many respondents indicated they had discussed their wishes for end-of-life care with family or friends, shared their wishes with providers, and documented their wishes in writing (79.5%, 49.1%, and 63.4%, respectively). Mean (M) quality of life scores were moderate (M ≈ 6 of 10). Illness stage was associated with documentation of end-of-life care wishes but not with having discussed these wishes with others or with overall quality of life. Reported emotional intimacy received was comparable to that desired (difference = .01 of 10); however, a greater desire for physical intimacy relative to that received was indicated (difference = 1.75 of 10). Discussion: Interdisciplinary palliative care teams may enhance ALS care by promoting advance care planning behaviors (particularly discussing one's wishes with healthcare providers), providing interventions to improve quality of life, and supporting pALS in navigating challenges related to physical intimacy.

Do perfectionism, body image concerns, and intimacy predict genitopelvic pain in the postpartum? A prospective study of new mothers.

BACKGROUND: Genitopelvic pain following childbirth is common and likely to challenge the psychological, relational, and sexual well-being of new mothers. While genitopelvic pain generally decreases during the postpartum period, personal and interpersonal characteristics may explain why genitopelvic pain persists beyond the period of physical recovery in some mothers. Body image concerns, increased stress, and relationship challenges would be particularly salient during pregnancy and the postpartum period, which could put new mothers at greater risk of sexual difficulties. Also, mothers may display a negative appraisal regarding genitopelvic pain and doubt their ability to cope with it, which may contribute to the pain. AIM: The current study aimed to examine the role of perfectionism, body image concerns, and perceived intimacy in the occurrence and change in genitopelvic pain in new mothers in postpartum. METHODS: A total of 211 new mothers and their partners were recruited for a larger prospective dyadic study on the transition to parenthood. OUTCOMES: Mothers completed a single item assessing genitopelvic pain, in addition to brief validated questionnaires measuring perfectionism, body image concerns, and perceived couple intimacy during pregnancy and at 4, 8, and 12 months postpartum. RESULTS: Five multilevel modeling analyses revealed that adaptive perfectionism, maladaptive perfectionism, and body image concerns were associated with a higher occurrence of genitopelvic pain from 4 to 12 months postpartum. Mothers' and partners' perceived intimacy was not significantly related to new mothers' genitopelvic pain. None of the predictors modified the trajectory of genitopelvic pain over time. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Raising awareness among health care professionals regarding the role of perfectionism and body image concerns in genitopelvic pain may help them identify new mothers at risk of chronic genitopelvic pain, while offering a new avenue of intervention. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: There has been little research examining the role of perfectionism, body image concerns, and intimacy in postpartum genitopelvic pain. Based on a longitudinal prospective approach, this study identified perfectionism and body image concerns as significant predictors of postpartum genitopelvic pain. However, prepregnancy genitopelvic pain, genitopelvic pain intensity, and sexual distress were not measured. CONCLUSION: Adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism and body image concerns are associated with new mothers' genitopelvic pain up to 12 months postpartum.

Sexuality, intimacy, and body image among adolescents and young adults with cancer: a qualitative, explorative study.

AIM: The aim of this study was threefold: (1) to explore Danish adolescents and young adults' (AYAs) thoughts concerning sexual health particularly focusing on sexuality, intimacy, and body image throughout a cancer trajectory, (2) to investigate how AYAs experience healthcare professionals address of- and respond to sexual health issues, and (3) to identify AYAs' suggestions on how to support conversation about sexual health. METHODS: A qualitative, single-center study was conducted, including AYAs (18-29 years) diagnosed with cancer recruited at the University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted from January-February 2023, recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Twelve participants were interviewed, aged 20-29; five were diagnosed with hematological- and seven with oncological cancer. Our analyses yielded three themes: (1) sexuality and body image as part of the identity, (2) excluding relatives in conversations about sexual health, and (3) uncertainty how to discuss sexual health with healthcare professionals. Finally, the AYAs' suggestions to support conversations about sexual health were organized into six thematic categories. CONCLUSION: In this study, participants experienced altered sexual subsequent impacts on body image and self-esteem during their cancer trajectory. While some adapted to these changes, discussing them with healthcare providers was difficult, especially in the presence of relatives, as the AYAs wanted to shield them from additional concerns. To enhance support, AYAs suggest regular discussions on sexual health and the use of a dialog tool by healthcare professionals.

The effectiveness of couple-based interventions on the marital outcomes of women with genital and breast cancer and their partners: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer and genital cancer are known as cancers that affect people's relationships with their partners. Women with such cancers are emotionally vulnerable and need more support from their partners. The present systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of couple-based interventions on the marital outcomes of patients with these cancers and their intimate partners. METHODS: To perform this systematic review, Google Scholar and databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, SID (Scientific Information Database), and Magiran were searched systematically. The reviewed studies included randomized controlled trials and quasiexperimental studies in which the intervention group, couple-based interventions, and the control group received routine care, general education or no intervention for cancer treatment. In this study, the included participants were patients with breast cancer or genital cancer and their intimate partners. The primary outcomes considered in this study included patients' marital adjustment, patients' marital satisfaction, patients' marital intimacy, and patients' marital relationships. The secondary outcomes were partners' marital adjustment, partners' marital satisfaction, partners' marital intimacy, and partners' marital relationships. A meta-analysis was performed with Review Manager v. 5.3 software (The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Cochrane Collaboration, 2014; Copenhagen, Denmark). The intervention impacts on continuous outcomes were measured using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence interval because of the use of various scales to evaluate the outcomes. The quality of evidence presented in the included studies was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. In the subgroup analysis, the studied outcomes were divided into two parts (theory-based and non-theory-based) in terms of the theoretical context of couple-based interventions. RESULTS: From a total of 138 retrieved studies, 14 trials were eligible for inclusion in the study. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the patient's marital satisfaction increased significantly with couple-based interventions (SMD 0.46, 95% confidence interval 0.07 to 0.85; 7 trials, 341 patients, very low certainty) compared to the control group, but the evidence was uncertain. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in the partner's marital satisfaction, the patient's and partner's marital adjustment, and the patient's and partner's marital intimacy. Additionally, the results of the subgroup analysis showed that the couple-based interventions significantly increased the patient's marital adjustment (SMD 1.96, 95% CI 0.87 to 3.06; 4 trials, 355 patients, very low certainty), the partner's marital adjustment (SMD 0.53, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.86; 4 trials, 347 partners, very low certainty), the patient's marital satisfaction (SMD 0.89, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.43; 2 trials, 123 patients, very low certainty), and the partner's marital satisfaction (SMD 0.57, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.94; 2 trials, 123 partners, very low certainty) compared to the control group in theory-based studies. In. However, in non-theory-based studies, the results of the meta-analysis revealed no significant differences between the intervention and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated the impact of couple-based interventions on the marital outcomes of patients with breast and genital cancers. Because of the very low confidence in the evidence, high-quality randomized trials with a sufficient sample size should be conducted considering the proper theoretical context.

"Not Now, I Am Too Stressed": Stress and Physical Intimacy in Early Marriage.

Stressful events can disrupt couples' emotional connection, yet prior research is mixed regarding whether stress also disrupts couples' physical intimacy. This study considered whether stress must reach a critical threshold before hindering couples' sexual activity and physical affection (i.e., a curvilinear association). Couples (N = 144 couples plus four additional wives) completed two 14-day daily diary tasks during the early years of marriage. Multilevel modeling revealed a within-person curvilinear association between daily stress and sexual activity. Contrary to expectations, the likelihood of sexual activity declined as stress increased from low to moderate, then leveled off as stress continued to increase. For physical affection, a linear effect emerged. On days of greater stress, women, but not men, reported less affection. Further analyses suggested that women's stress is more influential than men's stress for couple's physical intimacy. Findings highlight the nuanced ways in which stress is linked to a vital component of satisfying relationships.

Family intimacy and adaptability and non-suicidal self-injury: a mediation analysis.

BACKGROUND: Current research has been focusing on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors among adolescents with depression. Although family intimacy and adaptability are considered protective factors for NSSI, evidence supporting this relationship is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the mechanisms operating in the relationship between family intimacy and adaptability and NSSI behaviors among adolescents. METHODS: A self-administered general demographic information questionnaire, the Behavioral Functional Assessment Scale for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, the Family Intimacy and Adaptability Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Self-Assessment of Depression Scale were distributed among adolescents with depression in three tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu Province. RESULTS: The relationship between family intimacy and adaptability and NSSI was assessed among 596 adolescents with depression. The results revealed the following: (1) Family intimacy and adaptability were negatively correlated with NSSI behavior. (2) Psychological resilience and depression levels acted as chain mediators in the relationship between family intimacy and adaptability and NSSI behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Enhancing psychological resilience, controlling depressive symptoms, and reducing depression severity among adolescents by improving their family intimacy and adaptability are conducive to preventing and mitigating their NSSI behaviors.

Influences of communication ability, organizational intimacy, and trust among colleagues on job satisfaction of nurses in comprehensive nursing care service units.

Background: Communication abilities, organizational intimacy, trust among colleagues, and job satisfaction of nurses in comprehensive nursing care service units are emphasized more than any other ward, and research on this is necessary. Objective: The study was to examine the influences of communication ability, organizational intimacy, and trust among colleagues on the job satisfaction of nurses in the comprehensive nursing care service units. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design. The participants were 155 nurses caring for patients in the comprehensive nursing care service units in Seoul. Measures included the general characteristics of study participants, communication ability, organizational intimacy, trust among colleagues, and job satisfaction. The data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN version 27.0 program. The data collection period was from August to September 2022. Results: Factors influencing the job satisfaction of nurses at the comprehensive nursing care service units were organizational intimacy (ß = 0.36), communication abilities (ß = 0.26), trust among colleagues (ß = 0.22), and the average number of patients assigned to a nurse (ß = -0.19), which explained 67% of the variance. Conclusions: Organizational intimacy was the greatest factor influencing the job satisfaction of nurses in the comprehensive nursing care service units. To increase the job satisfaction of ward nurses working in the comprehensive nursing care service, securing manpower is required, and it is necessary to provide effective nursing care with an average number of patients of 5 or less. In particular, a systematic job training program is needed to increase organizational intimacy among team nurses.

"Comforting, Reassuring, and Hot": A Qualitative Exploration of Engaging in Bondage, Discipline, Domination, Submission, Sadism and (Sado)masochism and Kink from the Perspective of Autistic Adults.

Background: There is a lack of research on autistic intimacy; however, a small body of research suggests that bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadism and (sado)masochism (BDSM)/kink may be appealing to autistic people. We aimed at exploring how engagement in BDSM/kink related to autistic identity, using a phenomenological approach. Methods: We recruited six autistic adults through purposive sampling on social media. All participants took part in a one-to-one spoken interview about their engagement in BDSM/kink and how it related to their sense of identity. Results: We used interpretative phenomenological analysis to analyze the data and found three key themes. Theme 1, "Practicing safe 'sex'" highlighted how the clear communication and explicit focus on consent present in BDSM/kink facilitated a feeling of safety. Theme 2, "So many ways to touch and be touched" was focused on the sensory draw of BDSM/kink, and how it provided exciting ways to explore sensory joy (and sometimes revulsion). Theme 3, "Subverting (neuro)normativity" showed how autistic people can find pleasure in intimate practices that transgress normative expectations. Conclusion: Our findings highlighted the importance of exploring the perceptions of autistic adults in relation to their own intimate practices. Autistic intimacy is an emerging area of research, with very little focus on lived experience. Although engagement in BDSM/kink may appear niche, our findings suggest that there are aspects which are inherently appealing to autistic people. These findings can be used to destigmatize both autistic intimacy and engagement in alternative intimate practices more broadly.

Why is this an important issue?: Autistic intimacy is an under-explored area, with very little focus on the lived experiences of autistic adults and their preferences. Bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadism and (sado)masochism (BDSM) and kink are alternative intimate practices. There are aspects of BDSM/kink that may appeal to autistic people (e.g., sensory experiences such being restrained during intimacy). However, to date, there is very little research to explore this. What was the purpose of this study?: This study aimed at exploring the experiences and motivations of autistic people who engage in BDSM/kink from their own perspectives. What did the researchers do?: We conducted online video interviews with six autistic adults. We purposefully recruited a small number of people, choosing to use a method called "interpretative phenomenological analysis" that emphasizes deep explorations of the experiences of a small number of people. This method is particularly suitable for areas where very little research exists. What were the results of the study?: We found three key themes: Theme 1, "Practicing safe 'sex'" highlighted how the clear communication and explicit focus on consent present in BDSM/kink facilitated a feeling of safety for our participants, who found uncertainty during intimacy stressful. The sense of safety fostered within these interactions also provided the participants with a space to be their authentic selves, and "switch off" from the outside world. Theme 2, "So many ways to touch and be touched" was focused on the sensory lure of BDSM/kink, and how it provided exciting ways to explore sensory joy (and sometimes revulsion) for autistic people. Theme 3, "Subverting (neuro)normativity" showed how autistic people can find pleasure in intimate practices that other people might find unusual. What do these findings add to what was already known?: To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore autistic engagement in BDSM/kink from a first-person perspective. Our findings show that some alternative ways of being intimate might attract autistic people, because they provide stability, pathways for sensory exploration, or because they are fun in ways that other people sometimes find unexpected. What are potential weaknesses in the study?: We only interviewed a small number of people, and most of them shared similar interests within BDSM/kink. In future, it would be good to find out about the interests of a larger number of autistic people. How will these findings help autistic adults now or in the future?: There is very little research exploring autistic intimacy from a validating perspective. Our findings will help to destigmatize autistic intimacy and normalize conversations about things that people might think of as "taboo.".

The association between family cohesion and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have analyzed the association between family cohesion and depression, but there are different views and the results are inconsistent. It is necessary to use meta-analysis to explore the association between family cohesion and depression and its influencing factors. METHODS: Chinese database (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and English databases (ERIC, MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, Elsevier SD, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, and ProQuest dissertations and theses) were searched for articles published by November 2023. Measurements of family cohesion and depression, study design, age, gender, cultural background, and sampling year were analyzed as moderators. Meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model in CMA3.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 71 studies (90,023 participants) were included in this study. The meta-analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between family cohesion and depression (r = -0.31, 95 % CI [-0.35, -0.27]). The association was moderated by measurements of family cohesion and depression, design type, and cultural background, but not by age, gender, or sampling year. LIMITATIONS: The sample size included in this study is relatively small in European and African cultures, making it challenging to analyze cultural differences in the study results at present comprehensively. CONCLUSIONS: The findings contribute to the ongoing debate between Social Support Theory and The Circumplex Model, showing that individuals with lower family cohesion tend to experience higher levels of depression.

The Influence of Mindful Parenting on Children's Creative Tendencies: The Chain Mediating Effect of Parent-Child Intimacy and Connectedness to Nature.

(1) Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between mindful parenting and children's creative tendencies and to investigate the mediating role of parent-child intimacy and connectedness to nature in the relationship between mindful parenting and children's creative tendencies. (2) Methods: In this cross-sectional study, nearly 800 mothers of children aged 3-6 were enrolled. General sociodemographic data, the Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire (MIPQ), the Creativity Assessment Packet (CAP), the Child-Parent Relationship Scale-Short Form (CPRS-SF), and the Connectedness to Nature Index-Parents of Preschool Children (CNI-PPC) were all included in the questionnaire survey. (3) Results: There were significant positive correlations among mindful parenting, parent-child intimacy, connectedness to nature, and children's creative tendencies. Mindful parenting had a positive predictive effect on children's creative tendencies. Parent-child intimacy played a mediating role between mindful parenting and children's creative tendencies. Connectedness to nature played a mediating role between mindful parenting and children's creative tendencies. The correlation between mindful parenting and children's creative tendencies may be impacted by the chain mediation effects of parent-child intimacy and connectedness to nature. (4) Conclusions: By promoting parent-child intimacy and connectedness to nature, and by utilizing the chain mediating effects of both, mindful parenting positively impacted children's creative tendencies.

Differences in proximal and intimacy-related defense mechanisms among patients with cancer in different psychological stages of dying.

Purpose: This study measured three of the psychological stages of dying in patients with cancer and explored the differences in proximal and intimacy-related defense mechanisms at each stage. Patients and methods: A total of 220 cancer patients were recruited for this study; 168 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the data analysis. The participants were divided into three groups using the "Death Attitudes Questionnaire Revised" (1994) and then completed the Death-Thought Accessibility Test, Self-Control Questionnaire, Rumination Reflection Questionnaire, Attachment Type Test, Intimacy Test, External Control Test, and Positive and Negative Affect Scale. Results: In the death avoidance stage, which represents a defense stage without cognitive processes, patients are in an irrational state with the highest level of self-control and the lowest level of external control; they tend to prefer close relationships with many people while experiencing high levels of fear and depression. In the bargaining stage, which represents a biased cognitive defense stage, the level of rationality increases, the level of fear and depression decreases, and patients tend to prefer relationships with many people that do not involve intimacy. In the neutral death acceptance stage, which represents a defense stage without cognitive bias, self-control is lowest, external control is highest, patients tend to prefer intimate relationships with a few people, and experience the lowest levels of fear and depression. Conclusion: Three psychological stages of death exist in cancer patients, with differences in proximal and intimacy-related defense mechanisms in each stage. The findings have theoretical and practical implications for psychological interventions for cancer patients.

Psychoanalytic Contributions to Psychodynamic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy: Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Developmental Theory.

Erik Erikson gives us a comprehensive psychosocial schema encompassing the life cycle from birth to death. In elucidating key issues at each life stage-the epigenetic crises-he defines important parameters of development that distinguish between the normative and the pathologic. Individuals at any developmental stage can be evaluated with respect to these fundamental milestones.

The absence of one's intimate partner promotes dyadic competition through enhanced interbrain synchronization between opponents.

Competition is a common occurrence in life, but the influence of intimate relationships on people's competitiveness remains unknown. Grounded in Darwin's theory of sexual selection, this study utilized EEG hyperscanning technology to investigate the influence of the presence of romantic partners and the gender of competitors on the interbrain synchronization of female individuals during competitive contexts. The research results showed that in competitive interactions, there was a significant increase in Theta and Alpha frequency band activity between females and their competitors. Interbrain synchronization was strongest when their partners were not nearby and females competed with same gender competitors. The research results indicate that intimate companionship has an impact on the early alertness and late cognitive execution mechanisms of female individuals in competition, and due to intimate relationships, females pay more attention to same-gender competitors. This study demonstrates that the presence of intimate partners can affect a female's competitive state and brain synchronization with opponents of different genders, improving the theoretical explanation of intimate relationships and competitive interactions.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Scale of Perception of Respect for and Maintenance of the Dignity of the Inpatient (CuPDPH) to Brazilian Portuguese and its psychometric properties-A multicenter cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To adapt the Scale of Perception of Respect for and Maintenance of the Dignity of the Inpatient (CuPDPH) to the Brazilian language and culture and to assess its psychometric properties. RESULTS: The scale was evaluated by 15 experts, and 239 patients from three tertiary hospitals in Rio de Janeiro. All participants signed a consent form. Data have shown adequacy of the model (KMO=0.839, Bartlett's test of sphericity: χ2(171) = 2241.3, p = 0.000010), good adjusted content validity (CVCa ≥ 0.90), internal consistency and reliability, such as α = 0.927. DISCUSSION: CuPDPH is a rating scale on observable professional attitudes. Illnesses change lives and impose adaptation to a new situation, perceived as depersonalization, leading patients to try to regain control of their lives. Patients expressed "ill will" to fill out the scale. Psychiatric patients' scale filling time was higher than others. A sample from three Rio de Janeiro third-level hospitals may not reflect the country's population; also, this adaptation may not comprise all linguistic variations of Brazilian Portuguese and Portuguese-speaking countries. CONCLUSION: The Portuguese version of the Scale of Perception of Respect for and Maintenance of the Dignity of the Inpatient (CuPDPH), a 19-item, six-component version is a reliable instrument to measure the perception of internal medicine, surgical, and psychiatric patients on the maintenance of their dignity in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This knowledge could be used in advancing research on patients' perception of dignity, as well as professional ethical competencies, staff-patient relationship skills, and leadership development in medical and other healthcare professional education.